Pencil sharpener



NOV. 28, 1933. I E V EK 1,937,340

I PENCIL SHARPENER Filed Dec. 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l inventor 1 11 attorney N 1933. E. M. HAVRANEK PENCIL SHARPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1932 Zhmentor E.M.Havranek Gttomcg 5.: a simplified and compact structure for sharpening '25.;Ttermined position and which isautomatically Patented Nov. 28, 1933 'UEE STA'TES F'FICE I V r 1,937,340 I Q 7 i i Y I V PENCIL sHARr NE R v Emma M. Havranek, Omaha, Nebr. Application December 3, 1932. Serial No. 645,607

9 Claims. (01. 120-94) The present invention relates to sharpening device .adaptedfor operation upon lead pencils and the like. I

An object of the present invention is to provide ing taken substantially on the line 6,-6 of Figure9. m Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the device show-. ing the cutter and its parts depressed andshow ingthe pencil holder in its relative position. 60

,Figure 8-is a-detail top plan view or" the front: cover section detached from thecasingand Figure 9 is a top plan View of the device, with the cover plate of Figure 8 removed therefrom, showing, the pencil holder and adjacent parts. 65

Referring-now to'the drawings, 10 designates the bottom or baseof the pencil sharpener which is preferably of rectangular 'shape,although any suitable configuration and structure may be given. ing a handle or the like so as to effect the o'perathe same. Mounted on the base 10 is a casingor 70 tion of the cutter, and when adjusted, the rotaframe 11 comprising side po tio d joined y t of thei encjh a top wall-or plate 12, and the latter is provided The invention also provides an improved means centraliywith an upstanding tube or sleeve'13 for maintaining the cutter sharp, the sharpening serving a a pp t for t plunger Which p 2Q'jdevice beingautomatic and operable by the reates the device. Within the tube 13. is disposed 75 ciprocating movement of the plunger. Y a p n d 14 p h pper nd f wh h is A further object of the present invention is to mounted a hollovvhandle 15, the latter tele c pprovide an improved anvil or support for the ing atits lowerend with tube 13 and, adapted pencil point adapted to hold the same in a predeto move down over the tube when the handle is depressed, as shown in Figure 6. The handle 15 with the plunger 14 is normally maintained in raised or extended position by means of an expanding spring 16 seated at its outer end within the. handle 15 and at its other end within the bot-; tom of the tube 13 on the cover 12, as shown in 1 Figure 6, and the tube 13 is of suificient-length to accommodate the entire length of the spring 16 when the latter is compressed, asshown in Figure 6. 1.

The plunger rod '14 extends down through the top [12 and is secured to a cross head 17. The cross head 1'7 extends transversely across the interior of the casing 11 and is curved or raised in its outer endsto engage guide rails 18 provided upon the inner opposite. faces of thecasingwalls. 95

A shaft or pin 19 extends'transversely through the central portion of the cross head 1'? but is providedupon its forward end with a concavo-con vex disc 20 which comprises the cutting or sharpening element. The opposite or rear end of the shaft 19 carries a ratchet wheel 21 adapted to bear at one sideagainst adepending inwardly lead pencils and the like to' provide a conical point by the automatic rotation of .the pencil in the operation of the machine, and wherein the machine or device may be adjusted so as to hold the pencil against rotation to produce a spade like or'fiat point on the end thereof.

The invention aims at the provision of a pencil sharpening device or machine which may be operated on the plunger principle by merely depressopened to receive the edge of the cutting element so that the latter may pass down beyond the point of' the pencil and thus produce a clear,

sharp point or edge to the extremity-of the pencil 'Ipoint.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter,. and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto..

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the .several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with a portion of the-casing and the pencil holding deivice removed, the plunger being in raised position. Figure 2is a transverse section taken vertically through one side of the device on the line 22 of Figure 1, the dotted lines showing the relative position of a pencil. I v

Figure 3 is a rear side elevation of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken through the device on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

lar to Figure 1 but showing the pencil supporting means in place. r v

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of the device showing the pencil support and showing the'cutter in lowered position, the section bee Figure 5 is a front elevation of the device simie bowed flat spring 22 having a pawl projection 23 near its lower end adapted to engage an adjacent tooth of the ratchet wheel 21 when the cross head 17 is depressed so asto turn the wheel 21 with; the shaft 19 and the cutting disc 20 a suitable distance depending upon the continued downward movement of the cross head; The ratchet wheel. 21 andthe spring member or pawl 22 thuscom- 0 prise a means for intermittently turning or advancing the cutting disc 20 so as to present a new cutting edge upon each downward thrust of the cutter. 7 Means is provided for automatically sharpening the cutting edge of the disc 20. This means comprises a sharpening. stone holder 24 having an elongated slotted shank 25 which is slidably disposed in inclined position, as shown in Figure 2 across the forward side of the cross head 17, and at one side of the shaft 19. A set screw 26 is secured through the slot of the shank 25 and threaded into the cross head 17, and a flat spring 27 is mounted on the outer headed end of the set screw 26 and bears yieldingly against the shank 25 to frictionally hold the same in raised and lowered positions within the limit of the slot of the shank 25.

The lower end of the shank 25 is provided with a shoulder or projection 28 which lies in the pathof a pair of partially disposed shifting pins 29 and 30 so that as the cross head 17 approaches the end of its upper stroke, the shank 25 is arrested by means of engagement of the projection of the pin 28 with the upper pin 29 so that further movement of the cross head draws the stone holder 24 downwardly at the rear side of the cutting disc 20. A suitable sharpening stone 31 is mounted in the holder 24 and is disposed to wipe across the outer convex edge of the cutter disc 20 at each downward and upward stroke thereof. As the cross head 17 approaches the end of its lower stroke, the projection 28strikes the pin or stud 30 and shifts the shank 25 upwardly so as to wipe the stone 31 upwardly across the contact portion of the disc 20.

sharpening stone 31 is moved in wiping engagement up and down against the adjacent. edge portion of the disc 20, and as the disc is intermittently turned, the various portions of the disc are consecutively brought into position for engagement with the stone 31. The cutter 20 is thus automatically maintained in sharpened condition.

The upward stroke of the cross head 17, under action of the spring 16, is cushioned against shock by means of a felt or other suitably provided pad 32 which may be carried about the lower end of M the plunger rod 14 at the top of the cross head 17. 50

The lower end of the rod 14 projects beyond the cross head 17 and is preferably provided with a resilient foot piece 33 of rubber or the like for arresting the lower movement of the plunger when depressed and to absorb shock at the end of the lower stroke of the cross head.

The resilient foot piece 33 is disposed in line with the pivoted section 34 of an anvil normally held in horizontal position by a spring 35 disposed between the anvil section 34 and the base plate 10, as shown in Figure 2. The pivoted section 34 is mounted on a transverse pivot pin 36 carried by the base 10 and extends rearwardly over the base from the forward fixed section 37 of the anvil upon which the point of the pencil,

; or other device being sharpened, is adapted to rest. The upper faces of the anvil sections 34 and 37 are relatively flat to accommodate the pencil point, and the adjacent end portions of the anvil I A sections are disposed in abutting relation to limit 70' In this manner, the.

enters the slot or space between the anvil sections which is opened by the foot 33 01" the plunger, as shown in Figure 6.

Thus, the cutting edge of the cutter may pass downwardly beyond the extremity of the pencil point and thus produce a clear cutting action on the extremity ofthe pencil point. Preferably, the

hinge section 34 of the anvil is provided with a flat guide projection 38 for directing the point of the pencil forwardly and downwardly upon the stationary or fixed section 37 of the anvil. This prevents breakage of the point when the cutter 20 is moved down into the slot which is opened in the anvil.

The pencil holder comprises a pivoted body member having an intermediate cylinder or sleeve portion 39 with opposed wings'which extend to the sides of the casing 11 and are secured thereto by co-axial pivots 40. The pivots 40 are disposed near the lower end of the pencil holder so that the upper end thereof may freely swing back and forth on the pivots 40. The pencil holder is mounted on the upper portion of the casing 11 substantially opposite to the shaft. 19 when the cross head 17 is in normal raised position. Rotat-p ably mounted in the cylinder 39 is a socket 41 adapted to receive a pencil therethrough and which is provided with a pair of spring jaws 42 which extend upwardly beyond the socket and are arranged to grasp the opposite sides of a pencil when the latter is inserted downwardly through the socket.

The socket 41 is provided on its upper end with an outstanding flange suitably toothed to provide a ratchet wheel 43 with which engages a spring pawl 44 slidably seated across the inner side of the sleeve 39 and which is pivotallyconnected at its outer end to a double cam rocking lever 45 mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot 46 which is carried upon the adjacent wing of the pencil holder. The opposite ends or" the lever 45 are off set toward the adjacent side of the casing 11 and are so disposed as to be alternately engaged by the opposite ends of a double cam block 47 which is carried uponithe adjacent side ofthe cross head 17. The downward movement of the cam 47 engages the lower end of the lever 45 and moves the upper end thereof outwardly to lock the spring pawl. 44 over with the teeth of the pencil socket ratchet 43 to turn the same while the upvFaIrd movement of the cam 47 engages the upper end of the rocking lever 45 and moves the spring pawl 44 to a new advanced position on the ratchet wheel 43. The relative lengths or" the rocking lever 45 and the cam block 47, and the offset relation between opposite ends of the rocking lever 45 is such that when the pencil holder is tilted.

forwardly away from the cross head 17 to a slight extent the upper end of the rocking lever 45 ispencil. The opening 49 is of such size as to admit I *1 of a slight rocking movement of the pencil holder toward and from the cross head, and a shifting lever 50 is pivotally mounted in fiat engagement against one wing of the pencil holder and projects upwardly through an inclined slot 51 provided in willstayin'acliusted position When the shiftinglever '50 is swung 'inwardly the pencil holder is GUI L the top portion of the cover plate' 48, 'The "slot 51-is-in'clined forwardly and inwardly so that as the=shifting-leve1"'50-.is swung in the slot 51 the lever 50 is frictionall-y held-by its pivot against the winger the pencil holder so that the shifting lever swung forwardly and held in such position sothat the: pencil will nDt r'Otatadur-ing the operation of the cutter; The pencil may "manually turn a complete half turn and the operation completed s'o as to effecta uniform cut' or tapering of the pencil fromopp'osite'sides. a r

of the casing 11 so as to hold the rocking lever 45 in thepath of the double cam 4'7; Apencil isin-.

serted between the spring jaws 42' and down throughthe'socket 41 until thelower end of'the 15 and: the plunger rod 14 forces the cross head 17 downwardly on the guide rails 18. During this downward movement the lower end of the cam block 47 strikes: the lower end of the rocker 45 and turns the pencil through a predetermined distance depending upon the throw of the spring pawl 44 and the spacing of the teeth of the ratchet 43. Further downward movement of the cross head 17 effects theupward shifting of the sharpening stone 31, as abovedescribed, and still further movement of the cross head 17 in a downward direction brings the ratchet wheel 21 into engagement with the spring ratchet 22 for advancing the cutting disc 20 through a desired distance.

As the cross head 17 reaches the lower end of its stroke the cutting edge of the cutter 20 engages the lower end of the pencil and cuts or slices the same at the desired angle, depending upon the pivot mounting of the pencil holder.

Finally, the presser foot 33 of the plunger engages the movable portion of the anvil and opens the same so that the cutter edge of the cutter 20 may pass down beyond the end of the pencil and into the slot of the anvil. When the handle 15 is released, the spring 16 raises the handle with the plunger rod 14 and the cross head 17. During this movement, the sharpening stone 31 is wiped across the edge of the cutting disc 20 to sharpen it, and the upper end of the cam block 47 engages the upper end of the rocker 45 so as to advance the spring pawl 44 into a new position for engagement with the ratchet wheel 43. The

parts are now in position for a second downward thrust of the cross head andplunger, and it is apparent that before the cutter 20 movesdownwardly to any appreciable extent, the socket 41 which carries the pencil is turned to a slight degree to present the pencil in a new position to the cutter 20. The repeated operation of the plunger thus uniformly cuts or sharpens the point of the pencil entirely thereabout. The structure a; of the anvil is such that it holds the point of the pencil in line with the cutting disc 20 and releases the lower end of the pencil only when the cutting,

disc-20 is disposed close to the top of the pencil so that the cutting disc 20 holds the pencil from ';sliding into the slot or opening, in the anvil. The

such movement.

I It: is --'obv'ious-- that various'chan'ges and modificationsmay be made-in the details of construction and design ofathe {above specificallydescribed embodiment of {this invention without departing fromthe spirit thereof, such changesand modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following-claims:

-- What is'cla'i'med'i is: r

. ;1 ;'A pencil sharpener comprising a pencil holderla reciprocating'member,a disc cutter carried by said member, means forguiding said reciprocating member in a plane oblique to the axis of thepencil holder. and intersecting the lower end thereof t'urning means for the cutting disc, and: v stationary means cooperating with the turning In the normal: operation of the device the shift ing lever"5 0i'isswung outwardly' toward theside means foractuating the latter toturn the disc upon-each stroke of-the reciprocating member for presenting a different edge portion of the cuttingdisc to the pencil at eachstroke'of the member.--

2. 'A pencil sharpenercomprising a pencil holder, a reciprocating member, guide means for said member to hold the'same formovement in a plane oblique to the lower end of the penciLa rotary cutter mountedon the reciprocating member, means for turning the cutter, stationary operating means for the turning means to advance the ing the same against the cutting edge of the disc,

and stationary means for actuating the sharpener upon the movement of said member;

4. A pencil sharpener comprising a pencil holder, a reciprocating member, a cutting disc on said member to engage the pencil at each stroke of the member, turning means for the cutting disc operable by movement of the member, a sharpener carried by the member engaging the disc, mov-- able means for the sharpener operable upon movement of the member.

5. A pencil sharpener comprising a pencil holder, a plunger, a cross head on the plunger, a disc rotatably mounted on the cross head for engagement with the pencil, a sharpener on the cross head engaging the disc, turning means on the cross head connected with the disc, stationary means for operating the disc turning means when the cross head is depressed .by the plunger, and

stationary means operable upon the sharpener moving means upon movement of the cross head to move the sharpener back and forth across the edge of the cutting disc. r

6. A pencil sharpener comprising a pencil holder, a reciprocating member,a cutting disc mounted, on said member, turning means for the disc on said member, a stationary pawl for engagement,

projectionfor engagement thereby to wipe the sharpener across the edge of the disc at each stroke of the reciprocating member.

7. A pencil sharpener comprising a pencil hold- SGI er, a reciprocating member, a cutting disc on said member adaptedto engage the inner end of the pencil, an anvil supporting means for the pencil and having a pivoted part yieldingly held in raised position to hold the point of the pencil inline with the cutting disc, and a projection on the reciprocating member adapted to engage said pivoted part of the anvil for depressing the same upon the inward movement of the reciprocating member to provide a slot for the reception of the lower portion of said disc when moved below the point of the pencil.

8. A pencilsharpener comprising a reciprocat ing member, a cutting disc carried by the mem ber, turningmeans operable by the member for turning the disc, a pencil holderdisposed adjacent the reciprocating member and adapted to receive a pencil for engagement with said disc,-turning' ing member, a cutting disc mounted on said memher, a ratchet wheel connected to said disc to turn the same, a stationary pawl arranged in the path of said ratchet. wheel for turningthe same and the disc upon the movement of the reciprocating member, a sharpener carried by the reciprocating member for engaging the disc, stationary means cooperating with the sharpener for reciplocating the same on said member to move the sharpener across the edge of the cutting disc, a pivoted pencil holder mounted adjacent the reciprocating member for holding a pencil in line with the cutting disc, a cam on the reciprocating member, a rocker on the pencil holder having spaced endsllying in the path of said cam for reciprocating the rocker upon the movement of the member, turning means carried by the pencil holder connected to said rocker for rotating the pencil upon movement of the rocker, and means connected to the pencil holder for swinging the latter to move the rocker out of line with said cam for maintaining the pencil against turning during the reciprocation of said member.

EMMA M. HAVRANEK. 

